DAYS OF YOUTH (1929) Podcast | Timeless Film

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Days of Youth (Japanese title: Gakusei Romance: Wakaki hi, 学生ロマンス　若き日) is a 1929 Japanese silent comedy directed by the legendary Yasujirō Ozu. With a screenplay co-written by Ozu and Akira Fushimi, it marks the earliest surviving feature-length film by the director, originally titled Memory (Omoide) before its release.

The film centers on two university students, Bin Watanabe (played by Ichirō Yūki) and Shūichi Yamamoto (played by Tatsuo Saitō), who are more interested in romance than academics. Their competition heats up when they both attract the attention of a charming young woman named Chieko (Junko Matsui). To win her affection, one of them concocts a clever ruse—renting out his room with a “For Rent” sign, only to move out when she comes along. Soon they embark on a much-needed ski trip during their post-exam break—complete with slapstick snow antics, runaway skis, wet paint mishaps, and romantic rivalry.

It showcases Ozu’s early influences from Hollywood comedians such as Harold Lloyd and Ernst Lubitsch, blending graceful visual gags with youthful charm.